Distorting Justice? Israel/Palestine & U.S. 'Terrorism' Law

Both supporters and critics have cited Israel as an example for the U.S. to emulate in combating "terrorism." How has Israel shaped -- either by example or more directly -- U.S. law and policy on "terrorism"? How has cooperation between the two governments affected the Palestinian diaspora in the U.S.? We will bring together litigators, analysts, and prisoners' advocates to explore these questions.

PANELISTS

MICHAEL DEUTSCH

Distorting Justice

Partner, People's Law Office of ChicagoMichael Deutsch is a partner in the People's Law Office of Chicago, and has been defending political activists and militants for over 40 years. His clients have included the Attica Prisoners, Puerto Rican Independentistas, those active in the Black Liberation Movement, and anti-war protesters. He was the lawyer for Palestinian-American Muhammad Salah who was tortured by the Israeli security police (Shin Bet) and yet acquitted in 2007 in U.S. Federal Court of RICO conspiracy charges. Mr. Salah, a U.S. citizen, was a listed as a "special designated terrorist," and was finally de-listed after 17 years in response to litigation.

Mr. Salah's case is documented in a two-part article appearing in the Journal of Palestine Studies (2008). Mr. Deutsch is presently representing U.S. based Palestinian organizer Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab-American Action Network (AAAN), who has has been under investigation by the U.S. Government for over two years.

REMI BRULIN

Distorting Justice

Visiting Scholar, Journalism Institute, NYURemi Brulin's doctoral thesis (Sorbonne Nouvelle, 2011, highest honors) is on the birth and evolution of the American discourse on "terrorism." First at the Media, Culture and Communication Department and then at the Journalism Institute, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on media criticism, with a focus on political discourse and the definition of "terrorism." Currently, he is working on a related book and a series of articles.

TAREK ISMAIL

Distorting Justice

Counterterrorism & Human Rights Fellow, Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law SchoolTarek Z. Ismail researches the intersection of human rights and U.S. counterterrorism policies affecting Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities in the United States, including racial profiling, selective prosecution, and the use of informants and sting operations in domestic preventative law enforcement. He holds a JD from Columbia Law School and a BA from the University of Virginia.

NOOR ELASHI

Distorting Justice

Advocate for Defendants in the Holy Land Foundation CaseNoor Elashi is a writer and gluten free baker based in New York City. With a Creative Writing MFA from The New School, she has spent the past several years advocating for her father who was a defendant in the Holy Land Foundation case.

Respondent: DARRYL LI

Distorting Justice

Post-doctoral Research Scholar, Committee on Global Thought, Columbia University. Darryl Li holds a J.D. from Yale and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Harvard.

Kindly note, all non-Columbia University attendees must RSVP to palestine@columbia.edu by Monday, May 6th at 11AM.